Visualizing local quality on an electrophysiological map

Abstract

Methods and systems indicate where in the EP map the quality of the EP values is below a required level. Indications provide real-time visual aid to the physician, helping him or her to assess in which areas of the cardiac chamber additional EP signals need to be acquired in order to achieve the desired quality and sufficient spatial coverage.

1 . A method for generating an electrophysiological (EP) map, comprising:
 receiving multiple EP data points comprising respective locations and EP values, generated from signals acquired by one or more electrodes of a catheter that are in contact with tissue of a cardiac chamber;   scoring the received data points with respective quality scores;   computing respective quality metrics for multiple regions of the cardiac chamber responsively to the quality scores of the data points in the regions; and   rendering a map of the cardiac chamber to a display while coloring the regions of the map with hues selected responsively to the EP values of the data points in the regions and modulating respective colors of the regions responsively to the respective quality metrics.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein modulating the respective colors of the regions comprises reducing a luminance of a color as a function of decreasing quality. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein modulating the respective colors of the regions comprises reducing a saturation of a color as a function of decreasing quality. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein modulating the respective colors of the regions comprises overlaying on the map a graphical layer having a property that varies as a function of the quality metrics. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein rendering the map comprises modifying a transparency of the regions as a function of the quality metrics. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the EP values comprise local activation times (LATs). 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the EP values comprise bipolar potentials. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the EP values comprise unipolar potentials. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein computing the quality metrics comprises averaging the quality scores of the data points within each of the regions. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein scoring the received data points comprises computing a density of the data points in each of the locations. 
     
     
         11 . Medical apparatus, comprising:
 a display; and   a processor configured to:
 receive multiple e EP data points comprising respective locations and EP values, generated from signals acquired by one or more electrodes of a catheter that are in contact with tissue of a cardiac chamber; 
 score the received data points with respective quality scores; 
 compute respective quality metrics for multiple regions of the cardiac chamber responsively to the quality scores of the data points in the regions; and 
 render a map of the cardiac chamber to the display while coloring the regions of the map with hues selected responsively to the EP values of the data points in the regions and modulating respective colors of the regions responsively to the respective quality metrics. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein modulating the respective colors of the regions comprises reducing a luminance of a color as a function of decreasing quality. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein modulating the respective colors of the regions comprises reducing a saturation of a color as a function of decreasing quality. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein modulating the respective colors of the regions comprises overlaying on the map a graphical layer having a property that varies as a function of the quality metrics. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to modify a transparency of the regions in the rendered map as a function of the quality metrics. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the EP values comprise local activation times (LATs). 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the EP values comprise bipolar potentials. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the EP values comprise unipolar potentials. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein computing the quality metrics comprises averaging the quality scores of the data points within each of the regions. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein scoring the received data points comprises computing a density of the data points in each of the locations. 
     
     
         21 . A computer software product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer receive multiple EP data points comprising respective locations and EP values, generated from signals acquired by one or more electrodes of a catheter that are in contact with tissue of a cardiac chamber, to score the received data points with respective quality scores, to compute respective quality metrics for multiple regions of the cardiac chamber responsively to the quality scores of the data points in the regions, and to render a map of the cardiac chamber to a display while coloring the regions of the map with hues selected responsively to the EP values of the data points in the regions and modulating respective colors of the regions responsively to the respective quality metrics.